Forming apparatus for wood veneer strips or bands



- Aug. 4, 192s. 1,548,026

B. H. DIETZ ET AL FORMING APPARATUS FOR WOOD VENEER STRIPS on BANDS Filed may 28. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 4, 1925.

B. DIETZ ET AL FORMING APPARATUS FOR WOOD VENEER STRIPS 'OR BANDS Filed New 2a. 1923 8 I {5. H.'DIE TZ- ET AL Foaumc PARA'TUSIOR voon Vanna STRIFS on BANDS med mi 28. 1923 4 sum -gum :s

Aug; 4,

a. H. DIETZ ET AL g FORMING APPARATUS FOR woon VENEER szmirs on BANDS Filed may 2a. 1923 4 Sheets-s 4 6 6) [IT 567p hat-enter Aug. 4, i925e metal) PATENT ori BENJAMIN H. DIETZ AND ALBERT IE. HANSEN, OF CHICAGO, rumors.

i FORMING grammes-R ween VENEER s'r'mrs '01:, BANDS.

Application fiIedMay 28, 1923. Serial m. 41,901.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN H. DIETZ ancl' ALBERT E. HANSEN, citizens f the United States, and residents. of Chicago, county of Cook, andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forming Apparatus for Wood Veneer Stripsor Bands; and we hereby decl'are that the ffollowing is a full, clear, and 1 exact description thereof, reference being had tot-he accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifioation.

This invention relates to improvements in forming apparatus for woodvene'er strips and cons'ist's of the matters hereinafter described and Inoreparticularly pointed out in the appendedfclaians.

One of the 'ob' ects o f the present inventio'n is to provide a'si nrp'le and efficient alpparatus of the kind above mentioned for bending andf-orming a 'b'and, "comprising a plurality of glued veneer strips into the desired shape,- a'nd Hfor holding it vunder pressure until {it sets, so 'that 'it thereafter mainta ins the shape or form imparted to it by the apparatus a v I I y Another object ofthe invention is to pro- 'vi'dejin such an 'apparatus, rem-ova'ble, coa'ctin'g form members or cores between which the glued veneer strips arebent into shape and are peii'nittedtoiset after'saidcores have been looked together andhavebeen removed from the apparatus so that the said apparatus; inay be again used in pending the next, band; in the same manner, while the.

first band is drying andsetting A further object of theinvention is to so construct the apparat'us that it is particu- 40 larly adapted for bending and forming bands intos'hapes having reversel'y "curved parts, as for in'stancet'he side bands of grand piano bodies and the like. These objects of the invention as well "as the several advantages ofthe-invention will more fully "appear as we proceed with our specification. In'the drawings a a I Fig. 1 is a vie win "side elevation o ten apparatus embodying our invention, for bending and -forming glued veneer strips in'tobanols. v

2 is a view partly 'in end elevation and partly in vertical section on an e'nlarg'ed scale, "of our iinproved apparatus, the plane 0f :the seotionbeing taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

I "Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views through the apparatus, on the Ylines 3--3 and 4 -4; respectively ofFig. 1. v

*Fig. 5 is 'a' view partly in side elevation "andpartly in vertical longitudinal section, with the parts in a position different from that shown inFig. 1.

6 is a view of the two eoa'ct-ingmembers providing the form or core, with a formed band locked therein, and'after the core has been removed from the apparatus.-

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional View taken on the line 7x"7 'of Fig. 5.

Fig. "8 is 'a'detail vertical sectlonal VlW Wtaken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

"Fig.9 is a plan view of a band,'formed ou r improved'apparatus.

10 is a'perspe'ctive view of'a bar forming a fpart'of our improved apparatus.

Fig. 11 iis'a View in elevation of one of a plurality" of links 'for locking the two parts of the form or core together.

"@ur iniproveclapparatus is illustrated herein as of the horizontal type and will be "described as such, but'as will be apparent,

the same principles of construction and 'operation may be embodied in an apparatus of 'the vertical type"without departing from the spirit of t'hejinvention. V

In general "our improved apparatus in "c'lu'des a inale fo'r' m block and a female form block which are mounted for "a relative movement toward and away from each other. Associated with said form blocks are fo rriror core memberswhich are detachably and remox ahly mounted on'ftheform blocks. vThe venee'rstrips to formthe band are laid the 'o'n'e 'up'on theother and are glued to gether While upon-one core member, after which a -relativenioven1ent "between the form drying.

ment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings:15 indicates as a whole the frame of our improved apparatus which is mounted upon a floor, plat-form or like support 16. Said frame has upright, spaced, end standards 17 and 18 which are connected together at their top and bottom ends by suitable front and rear, horizontal connecting rods 1.9-19, and surrounding said rods between said standards are tubes 20-20 which hold the standards in the desired spaced relation. To assist in rigidly holding the frame against distortion, we provide outwardly and downwardly nclined, adjustable brace rods 2121 which connects the top ends of the standards 1.7 and 18 with the support 16 at points spaced from the bottom ends of said standards, said bottom ends being also secured to said support by outwardly extending L shaped brackets 22.

The end standard 17 is preferably made of channel bars arranged'in front and rear, transversely spaced pairs 17 17 with the channel bars of each pair spaced from each other and with the flanges of the channel bars of each pair, facing away from each other, (see Fig. 4:). The top and bottom ends of each pair of channel bars are connected together by transverse plates 2323 and at points between said ends said channel bars are further connected by transverse bolts and spacer tubes 24.

The end standard 18 is also preferably made of channel bars arranged in front and rear, transversely spaced pairs 18'"-18 with the channel bar of each pair spaced from each other and with the flanges of the channel bars of each pair facing away from each other. The top ends of both pairs of channel bars 18"---18 are connected together by means of elongated rectangular blocks 25-26 arranged on opposite sides of the standard. The bottom ends of the pairs of standards 18*18 are connected together by a transverse plate 27 on the inside of the channel bars and a transverse elongated rectangular block 28 on the outside of said angle bars. At points between said top and bot-tom ends said channel bars are further connected by transverse bolts and spacer tubes 2929.

The bottom plate 23 of the standard 17 and the bottom plate 27 of the standard 18 are connected together by longitudinal extending pairs of channel bars 30-30 respectively, (see Figs. 3, 4t, 5) arranged in planes between the longitudinal rods 19. The angle bars of each pair have their flanges directed outwardly and connecting the top flange of each pair are longitudinal plates 3131 which provide tracks or rails as will hereinafter appear.

3232 indicate longitudinally extending bottom and top guide bars which connect the standards 1718 together in the plane of the rods 1919. Each guide rod 3232 extends at its ends through plates 33 which bind together the channel bars of each pair 17 18 of the standards 17-18, there being suitable nuts on the ends of said rods 32 outside of the standards. It is apparent from the construction just described that the frame 15 as a whole is strong and rigid and is capable of withstanding the pressures imposed upon it in the use of the apparatus.

On the inside of the standard 18 midway between its ends, is a horizontally disposed block 34 which constitutes the male form block of the apparatus. The top and one end of said block, as illustrated in the drawings, are of such configuration as to con form in shape to that of the body band of a grand piano. Said block is spaced from the standard 18 by means of transverse channels 35-35 and embedded in said block are longitudinally extending anchor bolts 3636 arranged in the median plane of the apparatus. The ends of said anchor bolts are extended through rectangular plates 3737, Whichengage with the outer flanges of the inner channel bars of the pairs of bars forming the standard 18. Associated with said anchor bolts are the usual nuts, by means of i merges into the other side of the form block,

and a concave and reversely curved surface 40 connecting the end and corner 3839 respectively, together. Preferably the active surface of the male form block is covered with a strip or pad l1, such as leather.

42 indicates the female form block of the apparatus which, in this particular case, is also the movable form block. Said block is cut away at one end to conform to the associated surface or end of the male form block and includes top and bottom legs 4:34A, respectively, which are adapted to embrace the top and bottom sides of the male form block 34. The cut away part of the female form block includes the concave parts 4l5 l6 and the convex part 47 to co-operate With the parts 38, 39, 40 respectively, of the male form block. Both of the form blocks are preferably made of laminated Wood so as to eliminate the tendency of said blocks to split and crack or Warp out of shape. Fixed to the front and rear sides of the female form block 42 near the top and bottom thereof, are longitudinally spaced bearing sleeves 4l8l8 through which ext-end the guide rods 32, before mentioned. On the bottom surface of the female form block 42, are provided rollers 49i4 9 "whiehen'gage upon the rails or't-racks provided the channel bars and lateseo-ei Tespeetivery. It is apparent from the foregoing construction that the form block 42 moves longitudinally of the frame, toward and away from the rfiatle block 34', the female tor-m bllo'cl'r rolling upon the tracks afl'i'd 'being guided thereon by the roids32 and sleeve 48. i

I To prevent the legs 43 -44 of the ream-1e term block froinspringiirg apart dire 'to-"the 've'rtieal pressure imposed upon them in the operation of the apparatus, 'we cont-feet said legs together by tie or bracerods50 The ends of ea-1d brace rods "are connected to said *legs by the same bolts which se'cnre one of the bearing sleeves 48 thereto. The said rods are offset hetween their ends so asto bes'paced a "suitable distance outwardly from the front and rear surface of the form blocks, and in said rods are provided turnb'nolzles 51 by mars of which said "rods may stafitially heavy metallic strap 54: interposed between the out'er c'ore ineniber-53 and the female form block. The "core members carry latera'lly extending threaded posts 5 5 and the form blocks cairy similar-posts56. After the core members have been applied to their associated form blocks, they are :"ecure'ly' held in position thereon by links 57, (one "of which is shown in elevation in 1'1) which engages upon the posts '55 and 56 of the associated core and form blocks, winged nuts 58 being threaded on the posits to lock the connecting *l-inks in lplace thereon.

To assist in holding"the various strips from slipping 1n the laylng andglue applying I provide means fer holding one end of said bands to the top surfaceof the core member 52 which is 'as follows.

Threaded through the middle oft-he frame cross block 25 is a substantially long vertical ro'dfit) which has a hand 'wheel 61 "at its top end. The bottom end of Said rod is rotatively connected with the middle part of a presser foot bar 62, which bar'oairies near itsends, vertical 'guide rods 63, (see Figs. 1 and 2) that slide through suitable holes in the frame crossbar 25. As the various veneer strips are laid and glueithe resser foot is raised to permit theinsertion'of each veneer strip and is then "lowered to engage and clamp the "same by aiming the hand wheel the-core n'ie'mher;

herein, "Said means is carried on the male form-block and consls'ts of a pair of toggle "62 in the proper direction, as is apparent.

In the building up process, the otherends of theband are bent beneath the form block 34.

By this means the glued bands which would otherwise have a relative slippage, 011 account of the Wet "glue, are preliminarily held in V place.

Means are -also provided on one of the iorm blocks for securing the veneer band to be shaped and pressed, at its middle, to said form block so that the'ends ofsaidfba'nd may readily bend-to assume the curvature of Preferably,an'd as shown bolts 64 which are a'rranged radially 01E and stem 'an'gle midwa between the ends of the concave reverse curve 40. Sa dbo'lts are pivoted at one 'end in ears 65 fixed inthe form block sand ea rry at their other ends,

winged nuts '66. Associated with said 'bo'its "is a holder -'o'r "clamping bar- '67, (see Fig. 10) which has slots 68 at its ends to receive said bolts. The active surface of "said bar is preferablycovered with leather, although this is not necessary. The onset of the tie 'oiwhraee i'odsel is made greatenou gh so that in the movement of the block 42 they will freely pass the "toggle bolts 64-. ivhe'n the to gle bolts are swung into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the clam ing bar is appl led, and the wing-nuts are threaded upon the toggle bolts, the *lampiii g bar will hold the banded; its Iniddle tightly upon the core,

after which the p'r esse'r foot 62h; loosened sufficient to allow for relative movementof the bands iwhen the female form block is "ni'ovec'l toward the male form block. I

Any sultahle means, such as hydraulic or m 5 other power means or even hand power means may he used for moving the female it'ormfblock toward and 'away from the male form block. e have "shown and will describe herein, a simple and eflicient hand I Fpower "means for imparting movement to the female-form block which is as follows:

70 indicatesa longitudinally"extending,'

horizontally disposed threaded rod which is operatively connected at one' end to a bracket sleeve 71 on the outerend ofthe female form block 42 at its middle, so as to be capable of a rotative movement in said sleeve, without "an endw-ise movement with respect thereto. Fixed "to said end of said rod near the bracket 71 is a collar 72 having radially extending spoke arms 73 by'means of which said rod is rotated. The other and threaded end of said 'ro'd extends through a suitable box like casing which is mounted on the inner surface of the standard 17. 'ing is braced and connected to the said standard by means of transverse channel bars 75 and lag bolts 7 6 so as to amply Withstand the pressure imposed upon it.

Within the block like casingare twob-loeks 7777 which are capable of a lateral movement toward and away from each other, each block having a semi-cylindrical recess 78. Each recess is threaded to engage the screw threads of the rod when said blocks have been moved toward each other. Said blocks are held in place in the casing by a plate 79, (see Fi 5) in which is provided an opening through which the rod 70 extends. 80SO indicate shafts which extend transversely through the top and bottom ends of the blocks 7'? to have rotative bearing in the side walls of the casing. Between their ends, said shafts are right and left hand threaded to be en aged by the blocks 7777 so that when the shafts are rotated in one direction, the blocks move toward each other to provide coacting threads for the rod and through which said rod may be threaded, and when said blocks are moved away from each other, the rod is disengaged therefrom. To one end of each shaft 80, without the casing, is fixed a spur pinion 81, both of which mesh with opposite sides of another gear 82 fixed to a shaft 83, ournalled in one end wall of the casing between the shafts 818l. For turning the shaft 83, we provide the hand wheel 84.

With the various parts located in the position shown in Fig. 1, the hand wheel 84 is turned to bring the two blocks 7777 together to engage the threaded rod 70 in the manner of a nut. The shaft 70 is now rotated in one direction by means'of the spokes d 73 and this produces a movement of the female block 52, toward the male block, the fe male block rolling on the tracks provided by the channels 30, and being guided in this rolling movement by the guide rods 32 and ears 4-8. As the bottom leg of the female form approaches the free ends of the veneer strips, they are lifted upwardly toward the inner core form, which movement of the female block is continued until the top leg of the female form block engages the veneer strip on the top of the inner core. At this point of movement of the female form block, it will be noticed that the band made up of the veneer strips is engaged near its two ends upon the top and bottom parts of the inner core member. Further movement of the female form block is temporarily discontinued and the clamping plate 67 is removed by uI1- screwing the nuts 68 and swinging the toggle bolts downwardly into the posit-ion shown in Fig. 5. After the clamping bar has been removed, the presser foo-t bar 62 is elevated to provide ample room for the final part of the movement of the female form block and core member. Movement is again imparted to the female form block to bring it into the position shown in Fig. 5 where the band is held in a tight, snug engagement between the in ner and outer core members.

The ends of the links 57 which are con nected to the studs 56 of the male and female form blocks are now removed therefrom by unscrewing the winged nuts 58 and said ends are then connected to the associated studs 55 on the inner and outer core bands. In making this change it is only necessary after removing the proper winged nuts to swing the links about their other ends, so that the recesses at the first named ends engage the coacting studs of the core members after which the winged nuts are threaded in place to lock the links thereon. The two members of the and pressed band between them, the next .step being the removal of the core members and band from the apparatus after which it is set aside to dry.

The shaft 70 is now turned in the reverse direct-ion and this draws the female form block away from the male block, breaking the bond existing etween the male form block and the outer core member and its metal backing strip 5%, all of which is yet mounted on the male form block. As soon as this bond is bro-ken to release the female form block, the hand wheel 84 is turned in that direction which will impart a relative movement to the nut blocks 77 away from each other. This releases the screw threaded rod 70 from said blocks and the rod is pulled through the housing to quickly return the female form block to its open, startingposition, a knob or other hand hold being provided on the end of the rod for that purpose.

It is next desired to strip or remove the cores from the male form block and as they were applied under great pressure, it is first necessary to break the bond formed by said pressure between the core members and the male form block. To'that end I provide the following:

90-90 indicates two vertical shafts which are suitably journalled in the transverse frame blocks 2628 before mentioned, each shaft having right and left hand threads, as shown in Fig. 5. To the top end of each shaft above the blocks 26 is fixed a worm gear 91 which meshes with worms 92 fixed on a transverse horizontal shaft 93. Said shaft 93 has bearing in suitable bearing blocks fixed on a plate 94 at the top end of the standard 18. To one end of the shaft 93 is fixed a hand wheel 95 for turning the same.

Associated with the upright shafts 90 are two transverse blocks 96-96 which slide between the channels 18 of the standard 18 and upright flat bars 97 fixed to the top and bottom transverse frame blocks 2628 respectively, the blocks 9696 having threaded holes through which the shafts 9090 extend. Threaded through the middle of each block 96-96 is a horizontally disposed rod 98-98 and the outer end of each rod is provided with a hand wheel 99. To the inner end of each rod 98 is suitablysecured a transverse. stripper bar 100-400. Each stripper; carries guide rods l-101 which slide. through suitable openings -in the blocks 96 before mentioned. I

hen it is desired to strip the core from the male form block 84, the hand wheel 95 is turned in one direction rotating the two .upright shafts 90 in the same direction,

causing the blocks 96 to move, vertically upon said shafts, toward and away from each other in the guides providedby, the

' when the core with the formed'band secured therein is removed from the male form block in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal median line of the apparatus. The core with the band, as shown in Fig. 6, is placed in a suitable place to dry and set, when other core members are inserted in place upon the form blocks and the bands applied in the manner hereinbefore described.

It is herein pointed out that each apparatus has associated with it a number of core members so that as one band is formed and removed from the apparatus, another band may be started with another set of core members, so that a great saving is had in thatonly one apparatus is necessary for a great number of bands, instead of one large form as now made for each band. Thus, the apparatus need not stand idle while each band is drying and setting, the average time allowed for drying and setting being 48 hours.

Furthermore, the core members with the bands therein may be easily handled and do not take up near much storage space while drying as does the ordinary frame now used in making such bands. The operation is manifest from the foregoing description.

While in describing our invention we have referred to certain details of mechanical construction and arrangement of parts, we do not wish .to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

WVe claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus'of the kind described, the combination of coacting forming blocks having opposed faces of generally deep concave and high convex form with intermedi ate reverse curve portions, the curve of such concave and convex forming surfaces being deeper than said reverse curve by at least the thickness of the band to be formed, said concave. forming blockhaving extended parallel end portions permitting continued travel of oneform block relative to the other after the engagement of the end portions of the shaping faces of both forms with the work to the depth of said reverse curve.

' 2. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of coactingforming blocks having opposed faces. of generally deep concave and high convex form with intermediate reverse curve portions, the curve of-such concave and convex forming surfaces being deeper-than said reverse curve by at leastthe thickness of the band to be formed, and means-for connecting said extended parallel end portions together against spreading.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described,

the, combination of coacting forming blocks,

having opposed faces of generally deep concave and high convex form with lntermediate reverse curve portions, the curve of such concave and convex forming surfaces being deeper than said reverse curve by at least the I thickness of the band to be formed, removable means for clamping the work to be formed to the reverse curve portion of said convex forming block, said concave forming block having extended parallel end portions permitting continued travel of the concave forming block with respectto said convex forming block, after the engagement of the end portions of the shaping faces by both forms with the work to the depth of said reverse curve and after saidclamping means have been removed.

4:. I In an apparatus of thekind described, the combination of coacting forming blocks having opposed faces of generally deep con cave and high convex form with intermediate reverse curve portions, the curve of such concave and convex forming surfaces being deeper than said reverse curve by at least the thickness of the band to be formed, lining members for said forming faces, means for removably attaching said lining members to the associated blocks, said concave forming blocks having extended parallel end portions permitting continued travel of one form block relative to the other after engagement of the end portions of the shaping faces of both lining members with the work to the depth of said reverse curve, said means for removably attaching said lining means being capable of being actuated to secure both lining members together to hold the work between th.em.;

5. In an apparatus of the kind described,

therewith and including legs adapted to straddle extensions on said first mentioned blocks and upon which said legs lay the work being formed, means connecting said legs together, and means for. producing a relativemovement between said blocks, in-

eluding devices for holding the blocks together under pressure.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a convex forming block and a concave forming block cooperable therewith and including legs adapted to straddle extensions on said first mentioned blocks and upon which said legs lay the work being formed, brace rods including turn-buckles connecting the free ends of said legs together, and means for producing a relative movement between said blocks and for holding them together under pres sure.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a concave forming block and a convex forming block cooperable therewith, said blocks being capable of a relative movement toward and away from each other and having 'coacting forming surfaces to bring the ends of the Work around parallel, lining members on said forming surfaces, said lining members being adapted to be locked together after the work has been formed, and means mounted on the convex forming block to simultaneously engage both ends of said lining members for loosening the same from the forming blocks.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, We aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of May, A. D. 1923.

BENJAMIN H. DIETZ.

ALBERT E. HANSEN.

Witnesses W. B. SULLIVAN, T. H. ALFREDS. 

